Willa Magland
What I'm Reading (Feb 2024)
Posted Feb 29, 2024
I've found myself caught in a web of books, each one crying out for my attention. I've only included ones I am truly actively reading, not in the least neglected. On a typical day I have three "time slots" where I can sit down and read, so everything is always staggered.
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - received in a book-swap with a friend. I'm about two-thirds done, and enjoying it. There are times when the language does too good of a job communicating the terrible suffering, and I get overwhelmed and jolt, which isn't typical for books. Visual media, sure, that's easy to get overwhelmed over, but it takes a certain type of writing, good writing, to have that same effect.
- Only Revolutions - Two epic poems, swirled together in one incredible novel. I'm taking the "read 8 then flip" approach to it (either poem is positioned upside-down from the other, starting from either side of the book), and having a great time. It's my first time reading an epic poem like this, but the writing and pacing makes me feel incredibly powerful, for some reason.
- Maurice - Another one with a friend, this one a tale of gay romance in 20th century England. I haven't gotten to the romance part of it, but certainly the gay. My favorite line so far? When he calls the school Dean's relative a "queer fish."
- My Ántonia - Take two for my critical paper! Enjoying going over things with a fresh view, armed with a highlighter and a notebook, excited for what I might find. Typical of Cather, the landscape descriptions are always absolutely astonishing!
And, as always, House of Leaves. Right now I am annotating the Whalestoe Letters, which I admit I've mostly glossed over in the past. Speaking of, I am mostly done with a HoL post that I can't decide to post here, or to save it for a bigger project I plan on launching later. Hmm, maybe both?
I might post some links later this week, we'll see.
At any rate, that is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. — Willa Cather
Willa
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